Bob Carr criticises visa ban on Huang Xiangmo as ‘flimsy’

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Former foreign minister Bob Carr has slammed the reasons authorities have given businessman Huang Xiangmo for cancelling his visa, saying they were “flimsy” and “loose”.

Mr Huang, who is stranded overseas, yesterday released a statement about the decision and a reporter who spoke to him said ASIO had made the call stating he was “amenable to conducting acts of foreign interference”.

Mr Carr said it was “impossible to assess” whether Mr Huang should not be allowed to continue to reside in Australia where he lives with his family in a Mosman mansion in Sydney.

“The evidence behind the decision is not publicly available. Certainly no one should be excluded from Australia on the flimsy and subjective argument that they might be ‘amenable’ to foreign influence,” he said.

“Loose language like that can be used to kick anyone born overseas out of Australia.”

Australia’s political parties have no plans to return donations from businessman Mr Huang, who has asked for his cash back after authorities cancelled his visa while he was in Hong Kong.

Mr Huang’s spokeswoman told The Australian in December he was stepping down as head of his company to spend more time with family but it has now emerged his visa was revoked about the same time.

Mr Huang’s statement yesterday acknowledged his predicament and said the basis for the visa cancellation was “ridiculous”.

Mr Huang, who had given at least $2 million to both sides, accused political parties of soliciting the donations and that they should be returned.

“All donations related to myself were made at the request of the receiving political parties and their representatives as opposed to being proactive offerings,” he said.

“If any of the past donations I made was deemed inappropriate by any political party or political figure, I again propose the option for them to duly return the amount donated without the need to pay any interest. The returned money will be then donated to Australian charitable organisations accordingly.”

Liberal and Labor sources told The Weekend Australian there were no plans for the donations to be handed back. Mr Huang had stopped donating in 2016.

“The Liberal Party fully complies with this ban and all other laws relating to donations,” a party spokesman said, pointing out the Morrison government’s new foreign donations ban.

The property developer is known for his patronage of former senator Sam Dastyari but has courted both sides of politics. His family business has a portfolio across Sydney and the Gold Coast worth billions of dollars.

Foreign Minister Marise Payne confirmed this week the government had cancelled his permanent residency and declined his application for citizenship — a move which effectively leaves him stranded overseas.

In the statement posted on a Chinese language website, Mr Huang said Australian spies cited his association with the Australian Council for the Peaceful Reunification of China, the local branch of the China Council for the Promotion of Peaceful National Reunification.

“According to ASIO, the key allegation is that I am committed to promoting the peaceful reunification of China as the current chairman of the Oceanic Alliance of Promotion of the Peaceful Reunification of China and previously the chairman of the Australian Council for the Promotion of the Peaceful Reunification of China,” he said.